Display panel and method for fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a seal and at least one block. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The seal is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and has a first side and a second side. The first side has at least one liquid crystal inlet and connects in approximately perpendicular to the second side. The block is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and adjoins the first side of the seal. The block is disposed between the liquid crystal inlet and the connection of the first side and the second side. A method for fabricating a display panel is also disclosed herein.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application SerialNumber 98123490, filed Jul. 10, 2009, which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display panel and method forfabricating the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relatesto a seal structure used in the display panel and method for fabricatingthe same.

2. Description of Related Art

In a conventional process of fabricating a display panel, a cell processincluding the steps of forming an alignment layer, coating a seal,injecting the liquid crystal, etc., is usually used. However, during theprocess of injecting the liquid crystal, peripheral electrodes of thedisplay panel usually have residual liquid crystal thereon due to thecapillarity such that the completed display panel has poor quality.Furthermore, in order to prevent the electrodes from being contaminated,a subsequent clean process is still necessary after the liquid crystalis injected. As a result, it will consume material for cleanness andmanpower. And during the cell test process, the electrodes may operatebadly due to the contamination. Thus, some physical work would benecessary to sweep the electrodes and the electrodes could be damaged.Moreover, the capillarity causing the liquid crystal to be left at theouter side of the seal also makes a waste of the liquid crystal.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a displaypanel is provided. The display panel includes a first substrate, asecond substrate, a seal and at least one block. The second substrate isdisposed opposite to the first substrate. The seal is disposed betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate and has a first side and asecond side. The first side has at least one liquid crystal inlet andconnects in approximately perpendicular to the second side. The block isdisposed between the first substrate and the second substrate andadjoins the first side of the seal. The block is disposed between theliquid crystal inlet and the connection of the first side and the secondside.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor fabricating a display panel is provided. The method includes thesteps of: disposing a seal on a first substrate, in which a first sideof the seal connects in approximately perpendicular to a second side ofthe seal and has at least one liquid crystal inlet; forming at least oneblock on the first substrate and between the liquid crystal inlet andthe connection of the first side and the second side of the seal; andpressing a second substrate against the first substrate having the sealand the block thereon, such that the block adjoins the first side of theseal after the second substrate is pressed.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are by examples, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the followingdetailed description of the embodiments, with reference to theaccompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a substrate structure coated with a seal and itsfragmentary enlarged view during a fabrication process of a displaypanel according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a structure diagram of two substrates being pressed againstwith each other during the fabrication of the display panel according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a diagram of the block according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3B is a diagram of the block according to yet another embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the method for fabricating the display panelaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, the embodiments of the presentinvention have been shown and described. As will be realized, thedisclosure is capable of modification in various respects, all withoutdeparting from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptionare to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not restrictive.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a substrate structure coated with a seal and itsfragmentary enlarged view during a fabrication process of a displaypanel according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the display panel 100 can include a first substrate 102, a seal104, two blocks 106 and several pads 108.

The seal 104 is disposed on the first substrate 102 and mainly used forachieving a sealing effect during the subsequent process of injectingthe liquid crystal, so as to prevent the liquid crystal molecules fromleaking. In the present embodiment, the first substrate 102 is formedinto a shape of a quadrangle, and the seal 104 can be coated on thefirst substrate 102 in accordance with the shape of the first substrate102 or the practical demand. The seal 104 has a first side 104 a and asecond side 104 b, in which the first side 104 a is formed to have twoliquid crystal inlets 110 and connects in approximately perpendicular tothe second side 104 b. Notably, the amount of the liquid crystal inlets110 at the first side 104 a is not limited to that shown in the presentembodiment; that is, in another embodiment, the first side 104 a of theseal 104 can be designed according to the practical demand to havesingle one liquid crystal inlet 110 or even more liquid crystal inlets110.

The pads 108 are disposed on the first substrate 102 and prepared to bearranged along an outer edge of a predetermined position of the secondside 104 b of the seal 104, for the electrical connection withassociated circuits in the display panel. Moreover, the pads 108 canalso be disposed on a substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate102 (e.g. second substrate 202 shown in FIG. 2).

The two blocks 106 are formed on the first substrate 102 andrespectively disposed between the liquid crystal inlet 110 and theconnection 112 (i.e. the corner of the seal 104) of the first side 104 aand the second side 104 b of the seal 104. The material of the blocks106 can be substantially the same as that of the seal 104. Notably,there may be some space between the blocks 106 and the first side 104 aof the seal 104 at this moment, such that the blocks 106 can just adjointhe first side 104 a of the seal 104 after the substrate, opposite tothe first substrate 102, is disposed on the first substrate 102 to makethe blocks 106 compressed by the two substrates. In other words, thespace between the blocks 106 and the first side 104 a of the seal 104can prevent the blocks 106 from affecting the seal 104 due to thecompression and expansion of the blocks 106. The foregoing space betweenthe blocks 106 and the first side 104 a of the seal 104 can be modifiedaccording to the practical demand.

FIG. 2 is a structure diagram of two substrates being pressed againstwith each other during the fabrication of the display panel according toone embodiment of the present invention. Compared to FIG. 1, the secondsubstrate 202 is provided to be disposed opposite to the first substrate102, and the second substrate 202 is pressed against the first substrate102 having the seal 104, the blocks 106 and the pads 108 thereon, suchthat the seal 104, the blocks 106 and the pads 108 are disposed betweenthe first substrate 102 and the second substrate 202, and the blocks 106are compressed to further just adjoin the first side 104 a of the seal104, because the first substrate 102 and the second substrate 202 arepressed against with each other. As a result, when the liquid crystalmolecules are injected through the liquid crystal inlets 110, theresidual liquid crystal molecules will not directly flow along the firstside 104 a and second side 104 b of the seal 104 to the pads 108 due tothe capillarity and will not directly cause the pads 108 contamination;instead, the blocks 106 can avoid the capillarity and can produce abuffering effect to prevent residual liquid crystal molecules to flowthrough the second side 104 b of the seal 104.

In one embodiment, the block 106 is placed adjacent to the connection112 of the first side 104 a and the second side 104 b of the seal 104.In another embodiment, the block 106 is not placed adjacent to theconnection 112 of the first side 104 a and the second side 104 b of theseal 104; instead, the block 106 is placed adjacent to the liquidcrystal inlet 110 at the first side 104 a of the seal 104. In otherwords, persons skilled in the art can selectively modify the place ofthe block 106 based on the practical demand and effect to let the block106 be disposed between the liquid crystal inlet 110 and the connection112 of the first side 104 a and the second side 104 b of the seal 104.

In addition, the number of the blocks 106 is not limited to that in thepresent embodiment; that is, in another embodiment, there can be singleone block 106 or even more blocks 106 disposed on the first substrate102 based on the practical demand.

The block 106 can be formed into the shape of “-”, “

”, or a polygon. After the block 106 is formed, at least one side of theblock 106 adjoins the first side 104 a of the seal 104. In oneembodiment, when the block 106 is formed, the block 106 has an openingand an adjoining side, in which the opening is opposite to the adjoiningside, and the adjoining side of the block 106 adjoins the first side 104a of the seal 104. For the embodiment in FIG. 2, the block 106 issubstantially formed into the shape of “

” and thus has an opening 120, and the block 106 has a portion oppositeto the opening 120 and adjoining the first side 104 a of the seal 104.Precisely controlling the quantity of the block coated on the firstsubstrate 102 is difficult, due to the operating restrictions andtolerance of machine or apparatus such that the beginning point and theend point of the coated block would be more irregular compared to otherportion of the block, if the block 106 is designed to be in the shape of“

”, the second substrate 202 can be pressed against the first substrate102 after the coating process, and then the beginning point and the endpoint of the coated block 106 (i.e. two terminals of the shape “

”) can be removed and only the regular portion of the coated block 106are left when the pressed substrates are being cut. Accordingly, theblock 106 with the shape of “

” has the advantages of being easily produced and uniformly coated.Furthermore, the block 106 designed to be the shape of “

” has a larger surrounding area, so it can enhance the buffering effectto prevent residual liquid crystal molecules from flowing through thesecond side 104 b of the seal 104 and to prevent the capillarity.

In addition, in FIG. 2, the length (L′) of the block 106 is shorter thanthe opening width (W) of the liquid crystal inlet 110. In oneembodiment, the length (L′) of the block 106 ranges from about 3millimeters to about 20 millimeters. In another embodiment, the length(L′) of the block 106 ranges from about 5 millimeters to about 8millimeters. Moreover, the thickness of the block 106 can approximatelyequal to that of the seal 104.

FIG. 3A is a diagram of the block according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. Compared to FIG. 2, the block 106 a is formed intothe shape of “-” which has one longitudinal side adjoining the firstside 104 a of the seal 104. FIG. 3B is a diagram of the block accordingto yet another embodiment of the present invention. Compared to FIG. 2,the block 106 b is formed into the shape of a semicircle or “U” whichhas a portion opposite to the opening and adjoining the first side 104 aof the seal 104. Moreover, besides the foregoing embodiments, personsskilled in the art can design the block formed into the shape of thepolygon or others within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the method for fabricating the display panelaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. Refer to FIG. 1,FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. First, a plurality of pads 108 are disposed on thefirst substrate 102 or the second substrate 202 (Step 302) such that thepads 108 can be arranged along an outer edge of the predeterminedposition of the second side 104 b of the seal 104 when the seal 104 isnot coated on the first substrate 102.

Then, the seal 104 is disposed on the first substrate 102 (Step 304), inwhich the first side 104 a of the seal 104 connects in approximatelyperpendicular to the second side 104 b of the seal 104 and has theliquid crystal inlets 110.

After that, the block 106 is formed on the first substrate 102 (Step306), in which the block 106 is disposed between the liquid crystalinlet 110 and the connection of the first side 104 a and the second side104 b of the seal 104, and the material of the block 106 issubstantially the same as that of the seal 104.

Afterwards, the second substrate 202 is pressed against the firstsubstrate 102 having the seal 104 and the block 106 thereon (Step 308),such that the block 106 can be compressed to adjoin the first side 104 aof the seal 104. As a result, when the liquid crystal molecules areinjected through the liquid crystal inlets 110, the residual liquidcrystal molecules will not directly flow along the first side 104 a andthe second side 104 b of the seal 104 to the pads 108 due to thecapillarity and will not directly cause the pads 108 contamination;instead, the blocks 106 can avoid the capillarity and can produce abuffering effect to prevent residual liquid crystal molecules to flowthrough the second side 104 b of the seal 104.

Similarly, there can be single one block 106 or even more blocks 106disposed on the first substrate 102 based on the practical demand, andthe block 106 can be formed into the shape of “-”, “

”, or a polygon. Also, after the block 106 is formed and the twosubstrates are pressed against with each other, at least one side of theblock 106 adjoins the first side 104 a of the seal 104. In oneembodiment, after the block 106 is formed and the two substrates arepressed against with each other, the block 106 has an opening and anadjoining side, in which the opening is opposite to the adjoining side,and the adjoining side of the block 106 adjoins the first side 104 a ofthe seal 104. For the present embodiment, the block 106 is substantiallyformed into the shape of “

” and thus has an opening 120.

In addition, the length (L′) of the block 106 can be shorter than theopening width (W) of the liquid crystal inlet 110. As a result, not onlythe coating time for the block 106 can be saved to increase the yield,but also the used material of the block 106 can saved.

For the foregoing embodiments, the display panel and the method forfabricating the same not only can significantly reduce the contaminationfor the electrodes or pads, to significantly save the consuming materialfor cleanness and manpower during the subsequent cleaning process, butalso can prevent the electrodes from operating badly due to thecontamination during the later process (e.g. cell test), and can thusprevent the electrodes from being contaminated to erode.

As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoingembodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the presentinvention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intendedto cover various modifications and similar arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which shouldbe accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and similar structures.

1. A display panel, comprising: a first substrate; a second substratedisposed opposite to the first substrate; a seal disposed between thefirst substrate and the second substrate, the seal having a first sideand a second side, the first side having at least one liquid crystalinlet and connecting in approximately perpendicular to the second side;and at least one block disposed between the first substrate and thesecond substrate, the block adjoining the first side of the seal andbeing disposed between the liquid crystal inlet and the connection ofthe first side and the second side; wherein a length of the block rangesfrom about 3 millimeters to about 20 millimeters.
 2. The display panelas claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of pads disposedon the first substrate or the second substrate and arranged along anouter edge of a predetermined position of the second side of the seal.3. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block has anopening and a third side opposite to the opening, and the third side ofthe block adjoins the first side of the seal.
 4. The display panel asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the block is substantially formed into ashape of “

” and has an opening, and the block has a portion opposite to theopening and the portion of the block adjoins the first side of the seal.5. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block issubstantially formed into a shape of “-”, “

”, or a polygon, and the block has at least one side adjoining the firstside of the seal.
 6. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein alength of the block is shorter than an opening width of the liquidcrystal inlet.
 7. The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein thematerial of the block is substantially the same as that of the seal. 8.The display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of the blockranges from about 5 millimeters to about 8 millimeters.
 9. A method forfabricating a display panel, comprising: disposing a seal on a firstsubstrate, wherein a first side of the seal connects in approximatelyperpendicular to a second side of the seal and has at least one liquidcrystal inlet; forming at least one block on the first substrate andbetween the liquid crystal inlet and the connection of the first sideand the second side of the seal; and pressing a second substrate againstthe first substrate having the seal and the block thereon, such that theblock adjoins the first side of the seal after the second substrate ispressed; wherein a length of the block ranges from about 3 millimetersto about 20 millimeters.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, beforethe step of disposing the seal on the first substrate, furthercomprising: disposing a plurality of pads on the first substrate or thesecond substrate such that the pads are prepared to be arranged along anouter edge of a predetermined position of the second side of the seal.11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the block has an openingand a third side opposite to the opening, and the third side of theblock adjoins the first side of the seal.
 12. The method as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the block is substantially formed into a shape of “

” and has an opening, and the block has a portion opposite to theopening and the portion of the block adjoins the first side of the seal.13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the block is substantiallyformed into a shape of “-”, “

”, or a polygon, and the block has at least one side adjoining the firstside of the seal.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a lengthof the block is shorter than an opening width of the liquid crystalinlet.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the material of theblock is substantially the same as that of the seal.
 16. The method asclaimed in claim 9, wherein a length of the block ranges from about 5millimeters to about 8 millimeters.